The Radical Innovation Award encourages designers to develop ideas that will have a positive impact on hospitality. Entries should solve problems faced by hotels and create opportunities for guests and investors. Judging criteria includes concept, design, creativity and potential industry impact. The 2014 finalists will be presenting their projects later this month to a panel of hotel industry experts and investors and a winner will be announced at the annual event in Las Vegas.

We wrote last week about Hive-Inn, the Jenga-esque hotel design that was uber-cool and was considered a favorite to win but didn’t make it to the finals. Today, we look at the two finalists that were selected – each radically different from the other – Green Air Hotel by Studio Twist out of China and Hotel 2020 by Code Design Studio in the US.

Green Air Hotel Concept

This hospitality concept by Studio Twist seeks to address China’s air pollution which is now so severe scientists have said it mimics nuclear winter and impacts plant growth and diminishes breathable air quality. Interior and exterior greenery function as lungs to give guests cleaner air to breathe. Rooftop surfaces and the top of the entryway are covered in sod, but I wonder, given China’s UV blocking pollution, if these surfaces would flourish.

Each room has, rather than a balcony, essentially what looks like a terrarium that has hydroponics to support plant growth and glass to allow sunlight in. This sounds nice, the only detractor I question is whether the nighttime grow lights would keep guests awake if it’s necessary. If it cleans the air as it promises, this would be a huge boon to visitors to China that are unaccustomed to the toxins in the air. Breathing easier is a big plus for visitor experience.

Hotel 2020 Concept

This concept by Code Design Studio is less clear in purpose but looks sensational. The exterior resembles something from Star Trek you might house Starfleet officers in, but what’s inside is less defined. The designer explains it will be furnished with 3D printed interiors and the visitor experience would include “augmented reality” where the user could “interact with the space through computations.” Does that mean guests could choose and have 3D printed features added to the room?

The designer goes on to say “The 3D printed parts… not only enhances the ‘buildability’ of structures, but also takes into account different emotional states of guests to increase the impact of the design.” Frankly, I’m just not sure what this means. If I check in and am in a funk, can I print out items to complement my bleak mood or cheer me up? And if the concept does allow guests to generate their own experience, will there be leftover components to contend with?

The Green Air Hotel is clear in what it offers and what purpose it serves, less clear is what Hotel 2020 aspires to and has me wondering why Hive-Inn didn’t make the finals. Perhaps if more of Code Design Studios entry portfolio had been made available, it would be easier to fully appreciate their concept, but the artwork was certainly appealing, if somewhat vague as to functionality. It definitely leaves me wondering whether Code Design Studio or Studio Twist will walk away with the 2014 Radical Innovation Award later this month.